BACKGROUND reports have been ordered into a 31-year-old man who admitted a charge of wilful fire-raising to the danger of life.

Neil Brown pleaded guilty on indictment to setting fire to a sofa in the living room of a flat in Walkerburn.

Selkirk Sheriff Court was told neighbouring residents in Tweedholm Avenue – including children – had to be evacuated through a smoke-filled common stair after the blaze took hold on March 30.

Neil Brown had sentence deferred until next month and was remanded in custody.

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